Tallinn University of Technology, the only technological university in Estonia, is the flagship of Estonian engineering and technology education. Here the synergy between different fields (technological, natural, exact, social and health sciences) is created and new ideas are born.

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Tallinn Tech hosted Manufuture 2017 conference

On October 24-25, Tallinn University of Technology hosted an international conference Manufuture 2017 – Moving up the Value Chain with over 600 key persons from industry and science and politics across Europe to outline the future of European industry and identify priority technology trends for the period from 2020 to 2022.

The conference was held as one of the events of Estonia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The conference was opened by President Kersti Kaljulaid and ended by Prime Minister Jüri Ratas.

Carlos Moedas, EU Commissioner of Research, Science and Innovation, sent the welcoming words on behalf of the European Commission; the development of integrated European industrial policy was introduced by Lowri Evans, the DG of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. TTÜ Rector Academician Jaak Aaviksoo talked about the success of e-Estonia and the role of Tallinn Tech in promoting digitalization. Prof Dr-Ing. Heinrich Flegel, Chairman, ManuFuture High Level Group, presented the vision of National Working Groups to increase Europe's technological capacity up until the year 2030.

According to Tauno Otto, the leading organizer of the conference, the main topic of the conference was creating a new added value by new digital skills, training programs, research collaboration in technology and resource-efficient models. He added: "The conference had an unprecedented impact - priorities for research and development trends for the new funding period starting in 2021 were teased out in Manufuture. It also means developing new (digi)skills in industry and engineering."

For example, the new megatrends include increasing automation, innovation in materials technology, new materials and smart manufacturing technologies. The use of virtual and augmented reality in the workplace, the creation of digital twins from robotic systems, the triumph of self-driving cars and autonomous robots. Professor Otto emphasized: "The concept and meaning of work is changing significantly - either develop your skills or render you jobs to countries with cheap labor."

Siemens Digital Factory's new CEO Dr. Jan Michael Mrosik talked about Siemens's global plans as a leader in digitalization. Hando Sutter, Manager of Eesti Energia, talked about transforming the concept of the energy company from machine-centered into digitized.

Mr Maurizio Gattiglio, President of the European Foundation for the Exploration for Future, EFFRA, gave an overview of the future of European businesses and technology universities, and Urve Palo, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, gave a presentation on Estonia's leadership in shaping European industrial policy during the Presidency.

This year's Manufuture Conference, held at the Tallinn University of Technologyis held every other year, and it is the key industry event in Europe. It is here that we talk about the strategic importance of industry and production for the economy. Next time it is held in Finland.